May 2012

Video is more and more important in this day and age. Video lets you tell your story effectively and evocatively, meaning it will resonate more fully with those you need to reach, including customers and press.

People also remember something they’ve watched much more than something they have simply read – by about 50%.

What kind of video you should shoot can vary with each project and the type of message you are trying to get out. More and more, unique video companies are carving out very specific niches for themselves. Here are two great unique video companies have really defined themsleves uniquely. And both are very good.

My City Lives helps location-based business and organizations tell great stories about themselves and what they do through video. The place and the context is every bit as important to the storytelling as the people, and they do really interesting beautiful work. They also have a mobile app. Check out their “about us” video at the top of the page.

Epipheo Studios does wonderful Explainer Videos. If you haven’t run across that term before, it’s much as you would expect it to mean given the title. An explainer video is a short, often animated video that is meant to explain a harder concept. Their website is a total work of art in itself. They’re not cheap, but they do great work. Here is an example of one of their videos:

How about you? Have you worked with a videographer who has a unique eye or has a really defined mandate? I’d love to hear about them.

Who DOESN’T need funding for an awesome idea? How about $1000 to get you started.

Sound good?

Then find your local chapter of The Awesome Foundation, and if it doesnt’ exist, create it.

Why, because it’s, well, awesome.

30 people get together every month and raise a total of $1000 which they putin a paper bag. People submit their ideas and one of them is chosen to receive the $1000.

Here is a video from Awesome Toronto’s first winner selection with their first five finalists, one of whom was selected from this pitch session:

http://awesometo.wordpress.com/

What does this have to do with PR? Everything.

PR used to be about press releases and getting journalists to write about you. That’s still part of it. But just a part of it. There is so much more to PR today. The tools are available for anyone to reach the people they need directly, including influencers who can bring others to appreciate your point of view.

And engaging your local chapter of the Awesome Foundation in your project is a great idea. Members are engaged, dynamic and they want to support and share, well, your awesomness. Even if you don’t win, you may well find new supporters, partners and funders.

People share things they think are awesome through social media. They tell their friends, they want to be part of it, they want to help. And media are always on the look out for awesome ideas to talk about – and getting and awesome foundation grant has the stamp of awesomeness all over it.

The Awesome Foundation isn’t bureacratic, centralized or deeply formal. It’s a good idea that’s spreading. And anyone can be part of it. You too can help shape your city by funding what’s awesome or creating something awesome that others want to support too.

So go ahead. Share your awesome idea with the world. It may just win you $1000.